Oil pressure governor



Dec. 24, 1940. P. SPENCEI 2,226,102

OIL PRESSURE GOVERNOR Filed Sept. 4, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR PA U1. SEN SPE/VCE TT N YS Dec. 24, 1940. SPENCE 2,226,102

OIL PRESSURE GOVERNOR Filed Sept. 4, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR PA uz. SEN SPENCE ATTORNEY5- Patented Dec. 24, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Spence Engineering Company, Inc., Walden,

N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 4, 1936, Serial No. 99,422

8 Claims.

My invention relates to oil control means and more particularly to'means for controlling oil pressure to a burner or the like in accordance with conditions.

It is an object of the invention to provide an oil control for normally maintaining a supply of oil for the burner in accordance with the normal demand and limit control means for preventing abnormal oil pressures.

A more specific object is to provide means for normally controlling the flow of oil in accordance with the normal demand and limit means for so controlling the oil as to prevent a total failure of oil pressure as well as a rise in oil pressure above a predetermined maximum.

Another object is to provide a combustion control for a furnace, including oil pressure supply means and air supply means, together with joint control means therefor for normally supplying oil and air in accordance with the de-- mand, together with limit means for preventing a total failure of oil and air as well as an excess supply thereof beyond predetermined limits.

A still more specific object is to provide means for controlling a steam driven oil pump for supplying oil to a burner, together with means for controlling the steam supply to normally supply oil in accordance with the demand and additional control means for the steam supply to prevent a total failure of oil pressure as well as the rise in oil pressure above a predetermined limit.

Other objects and various features of invention will be hereinafter pointed out or will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

Briefly stated, a preferred form of the invention includes a main control valve which, in one form, controls the flow of steam to a steam 40 driven oil pump and/or air pump or fan and, in other forms, controls either a by-pass or the direct flow of oil to a burner. The main valve is normally controlled by a means, such as a pilot valve, actuated preferably by steam pressure of a steam generator in which the burner is used, whereby the oil supply will be in accordance with the normal demand for steam from the generator. In addition to the normal control of the main valve or valves I provide means, preferably in the form of high and low pressure oil pilots, for controlling the main valve or valves independently of the steam pressure, to prevent a total failure of oil, whereby a minimum quantity will always be fed to the burner and which will prevent a rise in oil pressure above the predetermined maximum limit.

In the drawings which show, for illustrative purposes only, preferred forms of the invention- Fig. l is a more or less diagrammatic illustrative view of one embodiment of the invention, illustrating a steam driven oil pump and a steam driven air pump;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1,' illustrating a motor driven oil pump with controlled by-pass;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, illustrating a direct control of the oil flow; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of a gage and alarm means. a

In the forms illustrated 5 indicates a boiler '10 heated by oil from a burner, designated generally 6. Oil is fed to the burner in the form shown in Fig. 1 by means of an oil pump 1, drawing oil through the suction pipe 8 and discharging oil to the burner through the discharge pipe 9. The :15 oil pump 1 is actuated by means of a steam pump IU of known construction. If desired the air supply to the burner may be furnished by an air pump or blower H, operated by means of a steam engine I2. In the preferred form the oil pump and blower are designed and operated so as to properly proportion the oil and air regardless of the boiler load.

In the form of Fig. 1 control of the oil is effected by controlling the flow of steam to the steam driven oil pump 1. As illustrated a steam pipe I 2 from the boiler has a branch l3, controlled by means of a main valve l4, and furnishes steam to the steam end of the oil pump, as will be understood. The valve I4 is normally; regulated in accordance with the steam demand and opens and closes to admit more or less steam according to the normal requirements.

The regulating valve l4 may comprise a downwardly opening valve l5, the head of which (if; separate from the stem) may be urged toward closed position by means of a lower spring It. The stem of the valve I5 is secured to or actuated by a head l1, guided on rods, and springs l 8l8 are interposed between the head I! and adjusting nuts l9-l9 on the guide rods. All of the springs, as illustrated, tend to close the valve 15. The valve is moved in the opening direction by means of a diaphragm 20 in a diaphragm chamber, as will be understood. The pressure on the diaphragm 20 for urging the valve l5 toward open position is normally controlled in accordance with the steam requirements. Steam pressure of the diaphragm 20 is transmitted through a branch steam pipe 2|, normally open valve 22 to be later described, then through pipe 23 and normal or steam pilot 24, pipe 25, restriction 26 and pipe 21 to the diaphragm chamber. The steam pilot 24 may be in all substantial respects the same as the main valve it but the valve head 28 of the pilot 24 is normally urged toward open position by means of the adjustable regulating springs I8I8 heretofore described. The valve M has a diaphragm chamber and a branch pipe 29 leads from the steam header 6O throttle the supply of steam to the diaphragm 20 of the main valve l4. Throttling of the flow of pressure fluid has the effect of reducing the pressure maintained on the diaphragm 20 because of the constantly open bleed 30 beyond the valve 24 and therefore in constant communication with all of the pipes to the diaphragm 20. Throttling of the flow of pressure fluid by the valve 28 with the bleed 30. constantly open serves to reduce the pressure above the diaphragm 20 of the main valve l4 and cause'the valve Hi to move toward closed position, thus throttling the supply of steam to the steam driven oil pump heretofore described. Conversely, when the boiler pressure drops the valve 28 of the pilot valve 24 opens, thus permitting a greater flow of pressure fluid and thus a greater pressure on the diaphragm 20 (the bleed 30 being constantly open but of much smaller capacity than the capacity of the valve 28) By means of the pilot 24 the steam supply to the steam driven oil pump is so regulated as to cause the oil pressure to vary in accordance with the normal changing demands on the boiler. The restriction 26 is for the purpose of preventing a too rapid flow of pressure fluid and thus prevents any hunting action of the main valve head l5.

When the air to the boiler is to be controlled by my improved valve arrangement the blower and engine l2 are employed and steam from the header I2 is fed through a branch pipe 3| and valve 32, which may be in all respects the same as the valve l4. Therefore, under the changing demands on the boiler the valve 32 will act the same ,as the valve [4 and when the oil pump speeds up to increase the oil pressure, so also will the blower speed up to increase the volume of air for combustion. It will be seen that under all normal conditions the supply of oil and the supply of air (when the air supplied is controlled by my improved valve arrangement) will vary so as to .maintain the desired boiler pressure.

If the boiler pressure should drop beyond a predetermined limit for'any reason, it will be clear that the pilot valve head 28 will move to wide open position, which action would in turn cause the main valve head 15 to move'to wide open position and the oil pressure would be increased to possibly a dangerous limit. I have provided means in the form of the high pressure'pilot 22 for preventing such action. The high pressure pilot 22 may be in all respects the same as the pilot 24 and is positioned in the steam supply branch 2| in front of the pilot 24. The diaphragm of the high pressure oil pilot 22 is connected through oil pipe 33 with the outlet or discharge pipe 9 from the pump 1. The adjusting springs l8l8 of the high pressure oil pilot 22 are so set that the valve 22 is normally open, that is to say, the springs may be set so that, should the oilpressure rise to, say, 250 pounds, the valve 22 will be closed. Should the valve 22 close there would be no way for steam ,to getto and past the steam pilot 24 and the pressure fluid above the diaphragm 20 of the main valve l4 would slowly escape through the bleed 30 and cause the main valve l5 to close, thus shutting off the pump l until the oil pressure again dropped to some point below that determined by the setting of the valve 22.

Now, if the pressure in the boiler should rise unduly the valve 28 of the pilot 24 would close completely and the pressure fluid above the diaphragm 29 of the main valve [4 would be relieved through the bleed 30 and the valve l of the main valve i4 would close completely, thus completely shutting off steam to the oil pump and there would be a total failure of oil to the burner. Such a total failure would be undesirable and therefore I have provided means for at all times providing at least an idling supply of oil, that is, a minimum supply. Under the condition noted, that is, with the valve 28 of the pilot valve 24 completely closed, steam through the branch pipe, 2i would be permitted to pass toward the left and through the, low pressure oil pilot 34 and thence through the branch 35, restriction 36 and pipe 21 to the diaphragm chamber above the diaphragm 20. The low pressure oil pilot 34 is preferably in all respects the same as the pilots 22-24 but the adjusting nuts are so regulated as to cause the valve 34 to open when the oil pressure in the diaphragm chamber transmitted through the branch pipe 33 drops to a predetermined minimum, say 60 pounds.

Therefore, when the oil pressure drops to say 60 pounds the valve .34 is opened and steam is supplied for operating the oil pump to maintain that minimum pressure. As soon as the oil pressure rises above the minimum of 60 pounds the valve 34 would again be closed and the pressure fluid from above the diaphragm would be permitted to bleed out through the bleed connection 36, which may be in all respects the same as the bleed 30.

pressure again drops to normal, the valve 28 of the steam pilot 24 will open, so as to again per- -mit the flow of pressure fluid to the main valve 14 and the low pressure oil pilot 34 will again be moved to its normally closed position.

It will therefore be seen that I have provided means for normally regulating the pressure of oil -to a burner, in accordance with the demands for oil to that burner, for example, in accordance with the pressure of steam in the boiler in connection with which the burner is used. I have also provided means for preventing an undue rise in oil pressure and I have provided means 38 are wired, as illustrated, so that should the 6 pressure drop, say t0'70 pounds (according to the adjustment of the contact 39), the low pressure signal light 4| and buzzer 42 would be energized.

On the other hand the high pressure contact 40 may be so adjusted that when the oil pressure reaches, say, 225 pounds, the high pressure signal light 43 and the high pressure buzzer 44 will be energized. Therefore, when the oil pressure rises above or falls to the pressures corresponding to As soon as the demand for a higher oil pressure occurs, that is, when the steam the settings-of 'the' adjusted contacts 39-40.

suitable signals will be given to the engineer. When the oil pressure drops, say to 70 pounds, and remains at that pressure for any protracted period, such action would ordinarily indicate that there were too many oil burners in service and the engineer would be notified to cut out one or more of the excess burners. 0n the other hand, when the oil pressure rises unduly and stays at the high pressure for any substantial period, such action would ordinarily be an indication that there were too few burners in service and the engineer would be notified to cut in more burners to supply the normal steam demand.

In the form shown in Fig. 2, instead of employing a steam driven oil pump and controlling the supply of steam thereto, I have illustrated a system in which there may be a positive oil pump 45, actuated as by means of an electric motor 46 and supplying oil through the oil discharge line 9 to the burner 6, the same as heretofore described. The oil pump 45 has a bypass connection 47, controlled by a by-pass valve 48, which may be in all respects the same as the main valve M of Fig. 1, except that the valve head 49 is turned toward open position by its springs. The pipe 21 leading to the diaphragm chamber above the diaphragm of the valve 48 is the same as the pipe 21 of Fig. 1 and all of the actions taking place as heretofore described in connection with Fig. 1 will correspond, that is to say, when the steam pressure rises the pressure in the pipe 21 would drop, which would have the effect of opening the valve 49 and thus permitting a greater supply of oil to be bypassed and the oil pressure to the burner 6 therefore reduced. When the steam pressure drops the pressure in the pipe 21 will rise, as heretofore described, and the valve 49 will be closed, thus either throttling the by-pass or completely closing the by-pass so as to increase the oil pressure.

In the form shown in Fig. 3 the oil may be supplied to the burner by any means, such as a pressure tank 50, having the oil supply line 5! connected thereto. In the oil supply line is a control valve 52, which is in all respects the same as the main valve M of Fig. 1. The steam pipe 21 connects the diaphragm chamber above the diaphragm of the valve 52 with the pilot or pilots, the same as in Fig. 1.

When the steam pressure drops the pressure in pipe 21 increases, thus opening the valve 52 to permit a greater flow of oil to the burner 6. When the steam pressure rises the pressure in the pipe 21 drops, thus more or less closing off the valve 52 to throttle the supply of oil to the burner. In connection with the valves of Figs. 2 and 3 it will be seen that all of the regulating features of the main valve of Fig. 1 may be utilized. The same may be said of the signals or alarms of Fig. 4.

While the invention has been described in considerable detail and preferred forms illustrated, it is to be understood that various changes may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Means .for controlling the oil pressure to a burner for a steam. generating boiler, including a main valve, a steam pilot valve for normally controlling said main valve, a high pressure oil pilot for controlling said main valve independently of said steam pilot, and a low pressure oil pilot for controlling said main valve independently of said steam pilot.

2. Means for controlling oil pressure to a burner, including a steam driven oil pump, a main valve for controlling the supply of steam thereto in accordance with oil demand, a pilot valve controlling said main valve for preventing an excess of oil pressure, and a pilot valve controlling said main valve for preventing a total failure of oil pressure.

3. Means for controlling oil pressure to a burner and air for combustion, including a steam driven oil pump and a steam driven air pump, main steam valve means for controlling the supply of steam to said steam driven oil pump and said steam driven air pump, steam pilot valve means for normally controlling said main steam valve means, a high pressure oil pilot for controlling said main steam valve means independently of said steam pilot means, and a low pressure oil pilot means for controlling said main steam Valve means independently of said steam pilot means,

4. Means for controlling oil pressure to a burner, including means for delivering oil under pressure thereto, a by-pass connection in said oil delivery means, a main valve for controlling said by-pass, a steam pilot for normally controlling said main valve, and high and low pressure pilot means for controlling said main valve to prevent an excess of oil pressure as well as a total failure of oil pressure.

5. Means for controlling oil pressure to a burner, including an oil pump, a by-pass for said pump, a. valve in said by-pass for Icy-passing oil to maintain a supply to said burner in accordance with the demand, a pilot valve for normally controlling said main valve to supply oil in accordance with normal demand, and limit pilot means for controlling said valve under abnormal pressure conditions.

6. Means for controlling oil pressure to a burner, including oil pipe supply means, a. main oil valve for controlling the flow of oil to a burner, a steam pressure pilot for normally controlling said main oil valve to supply oil in accordance with normal steam pressures, and oil pressure pilot valve means for controlling said main oil valve for preventing the rise of pressure above a predetermined maximum and below a predetermined minimum.

'7. Means for controlling oil to a. burner, including a main valve, a pilot valve for normally controlling the same to supply oil in accordance with the demand, a low pressure oil pilot for controlling said valve independently of said main pilot to prevent a total failure of oil pressure, a high pressure oil pilot to control said main valve independently of said first mentioned pilot valve to prevent an excess of oil pressure.

8. Means for controlling air pressure to a burner, including a steam driven oil pump, a main valve for controlling the supply of steam thereto in accordance with oil demand, a pilot valve controlling said main valve for preventing an excess of oil pressure, a pilot valve controlling said main valve for preventing a total failure of oil pressure, and means to synchronously control air supply in proportion to oil pressure.

PAULSEN SPENCE. 

